The Shadows Within

Still in Finn's fluffy cloak, I allowed myself to fall back onto the bed, unable to shake the feeling the dream had left on me. Closing my eyes, I tried to think of everything I learned. Serah's words were the clearest, though.

"You can't let him kill the humans." That was what she said.

She and Serena both echoed the same thing.

If all the humans turned into demons, their food supply would be gone.

However, that meant that Finn was planning on ending all of them at one point, too.

Did Rizak steer you from that path?

The owl was always the wisest of us, though he also had his secrets. The city below was his and Maxwell's experimentation grounds, and thinking about the human farms made me shiver.

Do they really exist?

It wasn't like Gael could feed all of them by himself, and he was the only one willing to go into the human world for the castle residents. The others had to feed themselves. Luckily, it wasn't as frequent as humans needed it, and they could spend weeks without feeding, though their temper would be affected.

The more I learn, the less it makes sense to me.

Finn loved eating whatever I made, even though it wasn't nutritious.

Why are you like this with me?

You aren't like other humans. His voice echoed within me.

In what sense, you stupid demon? Let me in your world. I need to understand why I'm not like them.

Though those words gave me hope, perhaps I could change something. Even though I told Serena I would, there was only doubt within me.

All talk and no bark, but I'll try not to be.

Once my arm healed, I had to learn how to use my magic.

I can't be a failure! There must be something we are missing.

I lacked a lot of information, but the only way to get it would be through Finn. If he trusted me enough for it, that was.

First, I must conquer the demon king or at least make you trust me enough to tell me your plans. Yes, let's focus on that.

Not that I would've minded if he loved me, too.

That would be a dream come true.

Even though my mind was in chaos, it wasn't long before I found comfort in Finn's scent. Closing my eyes, I drifted off again. However, I felt someone trail their hand down my arm the following day.

A soft voice called for me, yet the hours I spent thinking about everything made me lag to wake. No, the pillow was too comforting. I wanted more of its warmth, but eventually, the soft voice won, tugging me away from my dreamless sleep and into the light.

Mumbling, I turned towards the voice to notice Finn lying next to me. Those blueish eyes were gazing at me so gently that I hadn't realized if I was still asleep or awake.

"Hey, sleepyhead. How's your arm?" he whispered, smiling softly at me.

Slowly blinking at him, I tried to move my right hand, only for my fingers to twitch.

"I don't think I can move it yet," I mumbled, cuddling myself in his chest.

My arm dragged, but I didn't care; his warmth was all I sought.

"You want to sleep more?" he chuckled, welcoming me in.

"Mhm, can you hold me to get me warmer?" I asked, turning around for air.

His arm was comfy, though.

"You'd be warmer with clothes on." He held me tightly to him.

Winter was arriving, and the cold from before was just the autumn breeze. It was significantly colder than the previous days, but his warmth washed everything away. My back was to his chest, though his cloak still covered me like it did the entire night.

"Hm… clothes?" I mumbled.

A soft chuckle came from the dragon, who lifted his body slightly. "Yes, clothes, love." He trailed his hand into the cloak and onto my belly.

Instantly, my eyes flew open, realizing this was no dream.

"Finn?!" I yelped, feeling warmth where I had never felt it before.

Another cackle came from him, trailing his hand down my navel before pulling away from where he was going.

"Morning, Sparky. You slept in so long that I had to wake you." He informed

"D-did I?" I felt my heart race, turning my head to him only to see him lick his fingers.

"Mhm, you did. Now, I hope you remember my promise." His tail coiled around my left thigh, pulling it apart slightly.

Feeling my cheeks flush red, I turned to him slightly. "You'd come to rip off your cloak from me, right?"

A playful smile rose on his lips, leaning closer to me.

"Mhm, what a good girl." He murmured, pressing his lips against mine.

Using his tongue to distract me, I didn't notice where his other hand was. Well, until I felt his fingers brushing against my navel. There, he led a trail of saliva down to my groin with them, yet he stopped before touching my vulva.

Pulling away from my lips, I managed to see his rosy cheeks.

"Fuck, I haven't thought about someone like this in so long. If ever really." He sighed.

His eyes flickered full of conflict. Something bothered him, and I wouldn't know why unless…

"Like what?" I mumbled, feeling small in his hungry gaze.

Do I look like that, too, or something else?

"I want to be gentle with you. That's not something I've felt in a long time. So, I…" he trailed off, biting onto his lips.

"Finn, I won't break if you touch me," I assured him, grabbing his hand.

"Oi, I—" he started, only to stop when I led his hand into my lady bits.

I simpered, feeling skittish simultaneously, but we would only go in circles if I ran away. One of us had to stand our ground, and I would do it if he weren't going to.

"Touch me," I murmured.

His eyes widened before he drew me closer to him with the arm I used as a pillow. The hand that I advanced, though, stayed in place without moving.

You're too gentle with me.

"You… are making me lose my mind, you know that? Even the generals note that my head's in the clouds." He sighed, burying his face in my hair.

In the clouds? Do you mean you've been thinking of me? My mind is full of you, too. Even when you aren't around, you're all that fills me. It's how I know you've conquered my heart. I mean, what else can this feeling be?

"Because of me?" I shivered, feeling his finger trace my vulva.

In his trial, he left a warmth I had never felt before.

"Who else has been making a mess of me, Sparky?" he whispered.

However, before I could answer him, I gasped, feeling a sensation I had never felt when he brushed against my bell. It caused me to stiffen up, feeling an itch I had never felt before.

"What was that?" I mumbled, clasping onto the arm that held me to him.

Licking the back of my neck, a soft hum came from him. "Hm? This?"

He rubbed my sensitive bell again, triggering me to release a soft mewl from my lips. Nodding my head, I gazed toward him. The surprise in his eyes when I glanced at him like an innocent girl was almost too much to bear.

His pupils narrowed as a soft blue aura came from him.

"Oh, love, you've never touched yourself?" he asked, tugging away with fingers away from my vulva.

It must be such a drag to teach someone as inexperienced as me.

Closing my eyes, I braced for whatever came next.

"No… I never had the time to do anything like it. Most of the time, I had an ache somewhere, so I just fell asleep whenever I was home. If Dad didn't…" I trailed off, remembering all the times he beat me silly.

Shivers rushed down my spine as he shifted his position. Suddenly, I was on the bed with him on top of me.

"And even when you got here?" he continued to query, triggering me to shift my eyes from his blue eyes.

That blue aura was getting thicker, too.

Are you annoyed? But it isn't red. I can't tell what you're feeling.

"I was too busy learning from Rizak to think about things like that, and the only time I ever wanted to was…" I trailed off, biting my bottom lip.

If he was feeling something negative, I…

"Was?" he echoed the word.

"When you are around." I felt my voice crack.

A moment of silence went by before he leaned close to me.

"Hey, look at me, Sparky." He murmured close to my ear.

When I did, it left me in awe. His expression was gentle, and he had a genuine smile on his lip. It was brighter than the light shining in through the window. Leaning into me, he gave me the most mellow kiss I had ever had.

His tongue left me feeling just as warm as his touch did. Tugging away from my lips, he pressed his forehead against mine.

"Are you sure?" he breathed.

"What?" I mumbled, not knowing what he was going on about.

"That you want me. Are you sure?" he clarified.

Like his dragon form, his pupils were still narrow, yet I wasn't scared.

"Finn, I want to walk in your world if you let me." I declared.

A soft chuckle left him before he brushed his lips against my forehead. "Then let's not rush this. I want you to enjoy it as much as I do."

My heart raced as my mind struggled to keep up with the demon in front of me.

Huh?

"But I was enjoying it," I mumbled, shifting my thighs as he had left me tingling in my core.

His cheeks turned bright pink upon hearing me.

"Ah, n-not what I mean. T-tonight… l-let's go on a date." Finn suddenly declared.

My eyes widened before a giggle erupted from me. "The demon king does dates?!"

How can I ever think you're a monster?

Perhaps towards others, but to me, he was something else.

Yes, more human than myself… Such an adorable little dragon.

His eyes twitched, though that blue aura didn't change.

"Oi… You said you like roses, right?" he rolled his eyes, sitting beside me.

Did I say that? No… I only said it because you smell like them. But…

"I do. I love them," I confirmed, leaning into him.

You're running away again, but that's fine. I'll chase you, and I'll save you. Somehow… I…

"Then tonight… I'll take you somewhere." The flustered dragon declared, clearing his throat soon after.

"Where?" I reached to touch his lips, triggering him to gaze back at me.

"You'll see." He kissed my forehead.

I hummed, leaning into his lips. "Hm… I look forward to it."

What followed was a passionate kiss that led me to fall onto the bed with him on top of me. However, we didn't move from there. No, we indulged in each other through the lock of our lips. Well, until a knock came from the door.

This time, Nyla came to look for me, breaking our union. What followed was an experience I never thought I would have.